A numerical simulation for a model of wood drying process is considered. The model is given by a couple of nonlinear differential equations. One is a nonlinear parabolic equation and the other one is a nonlinear ordinary equation. A difference scheme is derived by the method of reduction of order. First, a new variable is introduced and the original problem is rewritten into a system of the first-order differential equations. Secondly, a difference scheme is constructed for the later problem. The solvability, stability and convergence of the difference scheme are proved by the energy method. The convergence order of the difference scheme is secondorder both in time and in space. A prior error estimate is put forward. The new variable is put aside to reduce the computational cost. A numerical example testifies the theoretical result.